Did Cuban/Nellie use the Knicks?

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FOR KNICKS, IT'S NO DEAL

By MARC BERMAN

February 22, 2002 -- Knicks GM Scott Layden sounded tired and dejected and, according to an NBA source, felt "used."
Dallas and Denver hooked up yesterday and Layden was left out in the cold as yesterday's trading-deadline turned into another Knick disaster. The Nuggets and Mavericks completed a seven-player deal that featured Raef LaFrentz, Nick Van Exel and Juwan Howard - three players the Knicks tried to acquire this week.

The Knicks attempted to get in on a three-way deal but ultimately the Mavericks and Nuggets were not interested in injury-prone Marcus Camby.

According to an NBA source, Layden felt Mavericks owner Mark Cuban used the Knicks solely to get Denver's attention. Layden believes, the source said, Cuban was never prepared to do a deal despite feigning strong interest in Camby, who could be out until early April. The only silver lining is LaFrentz, a free agent, and Van Exel could be available in a summer trade.

A Western Conference executive said of Cuban's and Don Nelson's deceptive negotiating style, "You really never know what they're really thinking or trying to do."

The Knicks' willingness to do the Camby-for-Howard deal demonstrated two shifts in philosophy: they no longer want to build the franchise around Camby because of his lack of durability and are seeking cap relief in 2003 when the spectacular free-agent class becomes available. The Knicks would have thrown in two players with large contracts - Charlie Ward and Shandon Anderson - to match Howard's $18.75 million salary. Howard's deal expires after next season and it would have given them a chance to get under the cap.

"We're always looking to see if there's anything to improve the team but we weren't making a trade just for the sake of change," Layden said. "There wasn't anything to make us better. The deadline comes and passes and we move on."

Layden may sign an unemployed free-agent big man - Otis Thorpe, Olden Polynice, Shawnelle Scott, even Ike Austin if waived. Layden spoke to more than 15 teams yesterday, shopping Camby and his point guards whose long-term contracts have scared off luxury-tax-conscious teams.

Source: For Knicks, It's No Deal